|
|
 |
|
------Robert
Rich - Echo of Small Things |
| STYLE |
|
A
collaboration of image and sound - although listed here
as a CD by Robert Rich, the photography of David Agasi is
an integral part of this work. Conceived as "a limited
production of 129 custom boxes containing offset prints
of ten photographs by David Agasi on heavy matte fibre acid-free
paper, a signed and numbered page with artists' statements,
and CD of music by Robert Rich" this album is also
available in the usual format with the photographs replicated
inside the CD booklet. The music is organic, melodic ambience
with a variety of environmental sounds. Drones and whale-like
shafts of sound slowly revolve with shifting densities whilst
the musical surface is repeatedly ruffled by organic recordings.
At times angel-soft and then gruff or thick, the aural mass
is punctuated by muted chimes and a variety of less indentifiable
struck objects. Nine tracks run seamlessly into one long
whole and are set alongside ten images - this inequality
of number works to dissuade the assumption that specific
photographs illustrate particular passages of sound. Robert
Rich is credited with MOTM modular, TimewARP 2600, Sculpture,
lap steel guitar, flutes and small things. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
value of the 'incidental' suffuses this package - the music
often appearing effortless, almost like something happened
upon, yet it is clearly steeped in purpose. The slow monumental
nature of much of the composition is set against the close-up,
transient nature of various shufflings, disturbances, found
spaces and distant thunder. Sleeve notes talk of "beauty
and depth of small things ... meaning in the poetry of the
everyday ... meaning often waits at the periphery". |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Clearly
the artwork for "Echo of Small Things" is fully
half of the project. David Agasi's stills, made "without
premeditation" help focus the shifting layers Robert's
atmospheric music - whilst the music, in turn, channels the
chosen perception of the imagery. Having the standard CD format
version of this release I'm unable to comment fully on the
photo prints, but in the context of the CD booklet, these
ten monochrome shots frame the intimate and the everyday with
the same sense of space and beauty developed in the audio
section. The front cover image hints at the quality of the
limited edition - a rich, sensual selection that is something
more than black and white. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
The
promotional material for Echo of Small Things says "Longtime
friends Agasi and Rich inspire each other with image and sound.
Ten of Agasi's haunting sensual photos unite with Rich's calm
reflective soundscapes in this unique creative meeting, focusing
eye and ear on the beauty of the intimate and peripheral."
On the back of the booklet we have three paragraphs from each
artist discussing the project and the work of his collaborator.
The imagery resists a narrative reading despite being laid
out sequentially and although the pictures are strongly cropped,
they aren't abstract - similarly the music has some definite
melodic elements lifting it clear of minimal ambience, yet
again, a narrative reading is too narrow for these interwoven
pieces. |
| |
| WHO WILL
LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Ambient
lovers that enjoy music as art, fans of contemporary photography
that appreciate deep immersion into vision and sound. If you
like ambient music with melodic patterns and plenty of shifts
- try Echo of Small Things. |
| |
|
 |
|
------The
Glimmer Room - Tomorrow's Tuesday |
| STYLE |
|
Pure rhythmic, tuneful electronica.
This debut CD from the Glimmer Room layers melodic synth
lines and arpeggios over mid and downtempo beats with
the odd sound effect and some strong clear basses. Andy
Condon sticks to a particular formula throughout Tomorrow's
Tuesday, but work plenty of variation into the fourteen
tracks - mournful synthesiser washes and guitar textures
are set up and adorned with well thought-out lead lines
which often all shift together to form passages of a different
character mid-track. The Glimmer Room, while conscious
of the present EM scene, is happy to work alongside the
main genres without trying to fit directly into any one
current style, best you give it a listen - www.theglimmerroom.co.uk.
|
| |
| MOOD |
|
Although
leaning on the downtempo side, The Glimmer Room's music is
intense rather than placid; likewise, despite some dark shadows
the sound is dramatic rather than brooding. Tomorrow's Tuesday
sounds like the sort of album that could well have developed
out of early eighties synth music - but clearly in the setting
of the new millenium. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Front
cover graphics feature a bold surrealist painting of a hairless
female figure tightly boxed in a dimly lit room reaching out
for a bare bulb. Indeed this image is repeated inside the
CD booklet with framing variations. Subdued hues and tones
fill most panels adding to the drama of the imagery. Information
is functional - with a complete track list and relevant background
information. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Fourteen
instrumental (except one) tracks of a fairly consistent mood
and method. Track titles such as Last Deep Breath, Borrowed
Time, Without You I Would Have No One To Leave and Floating
In Formaldehyde hint at the melancholy nature of much of the
music. Clearly Andy enjoys synthetic textures and programmed
sounds, but unlike many electronic artists, he takes the time
to construct tunes and motifs that overlay or interlace where
others go for repetition and cycling patterns. |
| |
| WHO WILL
LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Synthesiser
music fans that want some pure electronica without the trance
approach. If you enjoyed the melodic pieces being created
in the early eighties and would like to hear where that could
have developed two decades later - try The Glimmer Room. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Angel
Tears - The Dreaming |
| STYLE |
|
Multicultural
lounge music with chilled beats, gentle guitars and world
voices. This is one of Angel Tears softest albums - the
abundant acoustic guitars and subtle electronics form a
very natural sounding bed for the international voices and
instruments that weave throughout. Wordless vocals and flutes
are carefully placed against breakbeats rhythms with occasional
hand drums hinting at the tribal but mainly restful. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Cool,
gentle, exotic and peaceful. The Dreaming is probably the
ideal album for playing at a tropical bar - or for playing
at home and imagining you're there. The mood is consistently
developed as voices chant and sing among some beautiful
flute samples and performances by Shpatz. This CD is very
smoothly produced and easy on the ears. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
In
line with the previous Angel Tears releases, The Dreaming
is fronted by the now-familiar floating ivory carving, this
time set against a vivid red background. The back cover lists
tracks and times, whilst inside the digipack we get a look
at previous Angel Tears covers and some photographs of places
both devotional and wild. Production is credited to DJ Srulik
Einhorn and acknowledgment is given to Spectrasonics and Zero-G
as sound sources. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Angel
Tears have appeared regularly on compilation CDs, but their
music easily stands on its own. From Tel Aviv, Israel, Momi
Ochion performs many of the compositional duties of the
band along with Sebastian James Taylor (Kaya Project, Shakta
and Digitalis) who plays guitar on many of the tracks. Vocal
performances by Natasha Chamberlain, Zohar-Ben-Shitrit and
Momi Ochion blend seamlessly with sampled utterances and
Zohir Berada plays violin. Overall, this is Angel Tears
at their most sublimely chilled - a warm, flowing album
with a polished finish. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Someone looking for the ideal
summer evening music - global fusion with a high sheen and
comfortable vibe. Angel Tears are not a new-age act, but
neither do they fall into the ambient trance category -
inhabiting the space in between; they've created an exotic
niche of their own.
|
| |
|
 |
|
------Achillea
- The Nine Worlds |
| STYLE |
|
As a writer
and co-producer with Enigma - Jens Gad (the man behind Achillea)
clearly contributed much to the Enigma sound ... that sound
is apparent again here on The Nine Worlds under a fresh guise.
Achillea though is no pale imitation, Jens' composition methods
and solo guitar techniques work along with the heavenly vocals
of Helene Horlyck to give this album a distinct character
whilst at the same time professionally wielding a number of
the sounds and techniques that Enigma fans will instantly
recognise. The singing on Nine Worlds is crystal clear, pitch
perfect and of angelic range, the beats are deep, imaginative
and constantly evolving and the electronics are state-of-the-art
yet subtle and engrossing. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
A sense
of enchantment pervades Achillea as classical vocals and monks'
chants embrace the theme material of Norse legends and Viking
myths. There are moments swelling with beauty, heaven high
in clouds of ethereal bliss and others spell-bindingly gentle,
buried in magical twilight and timeless serenity. The promotional
material aptly claims that this is a "sophisticated chillout
journey" it is indeed emotional, uplifting, serene and
sensual; Jens and Helene have certainly crafted a top quality
product. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
A
classical female figure draped in a diaphanous robe fronts
this digipack with 'Achillea' in golden letters filling a
sharp transparent graphic panel. Indeed the blend of the archaic
and the modern permeates the whole package with track titles
overlaying an antiquated world map and the seeds of ancient
Scandinavian stories in juxtaposition with a cracked canvas
close-up of the front cover figure's face. A small portrait
photograph of Helene Horlyck is inlaid on one inner panel
alongside a brief explanation of the Achillea project. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Danish
artists Jens and Helene "have combined their remarkable
talents to explore their Viking roots and put it in a new
musical perspective". So each track on the album carries
a story rooted in Viking mythology and archaic poetry. Interestingly,
Jens apparently had Helene improvise for long periods in
Latin and in ancient Swedish in order to develop a basis
for his sensitive compositions, forming his music around
the vocals. Comparisons with Enigma are inevitable, but
then, there is no reason why Jens Gad should avoid using
and evolving the stylistic methods that he so clearly had
a large part in developing. Personally I find female vocals
ideally suited to this style of music and the choice of
a classically trained singer was spot on, adding to a level
of professionalism that Achillea exudes from every angle.
|
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
The Nine Worlds is a classy,
high calibre product that will doubtless fill Enigma fans
with glee and will doubtless draw new fans. Soft enough to
appeal to listeners at the 'new age' end of the spectrum but
edgy and fresh enough to be of interest to chillout lovers
that don't mind straying somewhat from down-tempo trance beats. |
| |
|
 |
|
------Various
- Earth Octave Lounge Vol. 2 |
| STYLE |
|
Shade shifting
'post lounge' and exotic world fusion music. There's quite
a variety on this CD, from instrumentals with smooth beats
and flutes, tribal drums and guitars, beatless ambient passages
right through to arpeggios and chillout trance rhythms. There
are tracks with voices, notably La Rosa from Aquila featuring
Irina Mikhailova who you might well have heard with Kaya Project,
Medicine Drum or Toires (among others). Some pieces are upbeat
and danceable, although the majority of beats here are more
varied than the usual down-tempo trance loops. Synths on Earth
Octave 2 are not so much the arpeggiated type (with a couple
of exceptions) - more melodies and washes with bright effects
interwoven. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
Warm global
breezes that range from blissed out and sultry to cool club
and lounge atmospheres. A generally restful album that montages
traditional Sephardic singing alongside downtempo ambience,
classical Indian influences with 'Eno-esque' electronica,
environmental sound recordings with echoing percussives and
dub structures. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
I
only have a promo copy of this CD - but what I have includes
a deep tropical cover image with some nice graphics, a write-up
on each track providing artist profiles and detailing the
sounds they've created for Earth Octave along with all the
relevant contact and website information. I imagine the commercial
package will be well produced with plenty to read through. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Eleven
tracks from artists familiar and relatively unknown make
up this second compilation from Interchill in the Earth
Octave Lounge series. The great variety in stylistic approach
threads together in the manner of bright beads on a string
of lush global restfulness. Ballearic moments with relaxing
beats, drifting synthwork and water sounds, female vocals,
deep basses and world voices - each track carries us off
in a new direction without losing the overall mood of the
project. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
Aimed at the chillout market
and especially at lovers of ethno-electronica. Earth Octave
Lounge Volume 2 will suit anyone drawn to hybrid ambient
lounge sounds where each track is a new digital mood.
|
| |
|
 |
|
------Ian
Boddy - Chiasmata |
| STYLE |
|
Pure
electronica - ranging from gliding, beatless ambience to
programmed rhythms and sequences - all brimming with feeling.
A number of tracks on Chiasmata have a deep, haunting air
either created by amorphous creeping beds of sound or by
melancholy lead lines, plaintive and beautiful. Tracks one
to nine interfade smoothly, forming a single suite of music
where the style flows naturally through a broad spectrum
of structures. Weightless and abstract to begin with, then
as we move into 'Ecliptic', melodic elements draw in followed
by a soft beat and we're gracefully floating on a cushion
of echoing blips and synth chimes. The CD progresses on
through poignant washes and celestial operatic voices, through
passages of varying intensity - at times rigidly rhythmic
with lumbering percussion and regular arpeggiation and then
spacey, shapeless, finally leading into one of the most
engaging and delicate piano solos - 'Still Point'. |
| |
| MOOD |
|
The
mood on Chiasmata varies constantly - shadowy, brooding
then wistful and elegant. There is an overriding pathos
and sense of mystery that that dissipates and reforms in
different guises throughout much of the collection. A love
of sonic technology is evident in Ian Boddy's music, embracing
synthetic and programming techniques - yet the human aspect
is also strong; clearly passionate, be it in twisting zones
of darkness, heavenly ethereal drifts or in mournful melodic
improvisation. |
| |
| ARTWORK |
|
Simple
abstract imagery in turquoise sea blues fill all panels with
soft effulgence - almost like a billowy eye of clouds on the
front cover. Inside the CD booklet, the artwork maintains
tonal consistency, but here appears to be a painting, reminiscent
of falling lights. A plain graphic band forms a backdrop for
the equipment list and sample credits inside and a similar
arrangement works for the track list on the back of the booklet.
On the back cover of the CD we're told that Chiasmata is a
limited edition of only 1000 copies. |
| |
| OVERALL |
|
Chiasmata
is a nine track live performance recorded at The National
Space Centre, Leicester, UK in 2003 followed by the encore
piece 'Mechanic Organic'. Originally delivered beneath astronomical
projections on the dome of the planetarium - this set was
clearly going to be difficult to recreate for a studio album
and so here it is in original form. Two of the tracks on
Chiasmata did appear previously on the album Aurora where
they had a slightly cooler personality - but here as part
of this live arrangement they seem perfectly at home. Ian
Boddy's multi-layered synths are fresh, clear and confident,
rich in detail and depth - silken-soft and shimmering one
moment, sinister, dark and disquieting the next. |
| |
| WHO
WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM |
|
This live CD will likely be
a must for anyone at the concert, however, the new material
is of near studio quality and so if you like Ian Boddy's
sound, don't miss these pieces. This is serious music and
will likely appeal to lovers of the post-Tangerine Dream
aesthetic. Fans of pure electronica will find plenty of
variety on this CD - with beats and without.
|
| |
|
